Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was born on January 31, 1902, in Huntsville, Alabama. Her father, a prominent figure in the Democratic Party, served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from June 4, 1936, to September 16, 1940.
Tallulah began her stage career at the age of 15, performing in local theater troupes in Huntsville and surrounding areas. At 16, she won a beauty contest, which boosted her confidence and led her to move to New York City to pursue a career on Broadway.
Although she was offered a role in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920),she declined after refusing John Barrymore's invitation to the casting couch. Unfortunately, she did not make a significant impact on the New York stages, so she moved to London in 1923 to try her luck.
For the next several years, she became the most popular actress of London's West End, starring in several well-received plays. Her success caught the attention of Paramount Pictures executives, who offered her a film contract.
Tallulah returned to the United States and made her film debut in Woman's Law (1927) and His House in Order (1928),but her early films did not receive critical acclaim. She returned to stage work, trying her hand at film again with Tarnished Lady (1931),My Sin (1931),and The Cheat (1931).
The latter film was a star-studded affair that performed well at the box office due to its cast, which included Gary Cooper, Charles Laughton, and newcomer Cary Grant. However, the films she was making did not do justice to her talent, and she did not make another film for 11 years.
During this time, she toured nationally, performing in all but three states. She was also known for her untraditional behavior, chain-smoking, and enjoying Kentucky bourbon. She was famous for throwing wild parties that would last for days.
Tallulah returned to films in 1943 with a cameo in Stage Door Canteen (1943) and later appeared in Lifeboat (1944) for director Alfred Hitchcock. However, her film career was short-lived, and she did not appear on screen again until she landed a role in Die! Die! My Darling! (1965).
Her final film appearances consisted of a few TV spots and the voice of the Sea Witch in the animated film The Daydreamer (1966). Tallulah went back to the stage, which remained her true passion. She died on December 12, 1968, at the age of 66, due to pneumonia in her beloved New York City.
Throughout her career, Tallulah Bankhead was known for her talent, colorful personality, and iconic phrase, "Hello, Dahling," which has become a staple in the entertainment world.
